intrinsic

#pragma intrinsic( function1 [, function2, ...] )

Specifies that calls to functions specified in the pragma’s argument list are intrinsic. The compiler generates intrinsic functions as inline code, not as function calls. The library functions with intrinsic forms are listed below. Once an intrinsic pragma is seen, it takes effect at the first function definition containing a specified intrinsic function. The effect continues to the end of the source file or to the appearance of a function pragma specifying the same intrinsic function. The intrinsic pragma can be used only outside of a function definition — at the global level.

The following functions have intrinsic forms:

Programs that use intrinsic functions are faster because they do not have the overhead of function calls but may be larger due to the additional code generated.

Note   The _alloca and setjmp functions are always generated inline; this behavior is not affected by the intrinsic pragma.

The _disable and _enable parameters are kernel-mode instructions to disable/enable interrupts and could be useful in kernel-mode drivers.

Compile the following code from the command line with "cl -c -FAs sample.c" and look at sample.asm to see that they turn into x86 instructions CLI and STI:

#include <dos.h>  // definitions for _disable, _enable
#pragma intrinsic(_disable)
#pragma intrinsic(_enable)
void f1(void)
{
  _disable();
  f1();
  _enable();
}

The floating-point functions listed below do not have true intrinsic forms. Instead they have versions that pass arguments directly to the floating-point chip rather than pushing them onto the program stack:

The floating-point functions listed below have true intrinsic forms when you specify both the /Oi and /Og compiler options (or any option that includes /Og: /Ox, /O1, and /O2):

You can use the /Op or /Za compiler option to override generation of true intrinsic floating-point options. In this case, the functions are generated as library routines that pass arguments directly to the floating-point chip instead of pushing them onto the program stack.

See function for information on how to enable/disable intrinsics for a block of source text.

Pragma Directives